Slow down!

I feel like a guy driving a wagon of runaway horses, because I keep saying to myself: "Whoa!"
This past month has been a non-stop roller coaster, and I just want to say,

STOP!

Give me a minute to breathe!!

I cannot believe that in 2 weeks, this campus will be flooded with over 3,000 FFA jackets, and the in 3 weeks I will have retired as a state officer.
Before I begin to reminisce this past year, I need to fill you in on what has happened in the past month- BANQUETS!!!
Lyon County Corn and Soybean Growers-
... For one night I got to go home and spend time with my family. Lyon county is my home county, so it was nice to have the location near. Here, Tracy and Marshall FFA members as well as Greg Tusa from Jackson County Central FFA joined me at the banquet. The current chair, Jeff Buyck, 2004-2005 MN FFA State President and my mentor, invited me to the event. I had a conversation with two young agriculturalists, Jayden and Mason. They are 5 and 8, yet their age does not limit them from their interest and knowledge of working in the field. As many times as I hear about the "future of agriculture", it has encouraging to see it as well. To my surprise, by the end of the night, I was also elected to the Lyon County Board of Directors! Thank you to the Lyon County Corn and Soybean Growers for inviting me, and for the producers who continue to support it.

Hutchinson FFA-
...What do you get when you combine:
1. Rubik's cubes being solved just over a minute
2. A unicyclist that climbs stairs
3. Pork sandwiches
4. A Hannah Montana routine
5. and stories of an extreme snowball fight ?
- THE HUTCHINSON FFA BANQUET! Yep, everything listed happened at this banquet. I had a great time catching up with my old friends from Hutch, as well as making some new ones. Congrats to Katie, the Star Greenhand! She received a $75 scholarship to attend camp this summer. Thank you to Kelsey, Jaden, Katie, Chelsea, Briana, Zach and Miranda for putting on a great banquet! Congratulations to the new, 2010-2011 Chapter officer team!

Region IV FFA-
... Thank you to Erin, Doreen, Bailey, Andrew, Kelvin, Tanner and other members of the officer team for putting on a great banquet! I caught up with some Foley FFA members, including Ashley who was recently announced as a Star Farmer Finalist! Good luck to this year's team especially the 2010-2011 Region IV President- Sabrina Kieser from Howard Lake-Waverly-Winstead FFA! I also thoroughly enjoyed driving around the gravel roads of Waverly in attempt to find the huge fire that was burning with Crystal and Doreen.

Owatonna FFA-
... I love Owatonna. A lot. Their banquet was jammed packed with delicious food, a live auction, talent and great stories from Mr.Spindler. Congratulations are due to Travis, who will represent Region VII at State Convention in the Talent competition. Also, to the Dekalb Award winner DJ.
If you have a sweet tooth for over 17 dozen, different flavored cookies- come next year and place you bid for them! They sold for over $200! Don't worry, the funds go straight back to the chapter in helping with state convention expenses. Thank you to DJ, Steph, Kelsey, Andrew, Lisa, Jen, Matt and Brooke for putting on a great banquet! Good luck to this year's newly elected officers, and serving as the Region VII President, Kelsey Mussman.

... Now I need to get back to working on MORE CONVENTION STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1